Collection: Rhode Island: Three Centuries of Democracy

Russell H. Handy, president and general manager of the Contrexeville Manufacturing Company, and a political leader of influence, is well known in Manville. Since the early seventeenth century, there have been representatives of the Handy family engaged in furthering the history of New England. Details regarding the early members of the family are given in the sketch of Thomas Henry Handy, uncle of the subject of this record. The great-grandfather of Russell H. Handy was typical of the early Americans who faced the difficulties of a more primitive day and proved ingenious and hardworking enough to carve success out of … Read more

A prominent man in the business and community life of Manville, Rhode Island, Thomas Henry Handy is treasurer of the Contrexeville Manufacturing Company, and descendant of a fine old family long established in that section. The name was originally spelled in various ways, such as Handy, Hendy, and Hendee, which are all to be found in early records of New England. The immediate ancestor of the branch to which the subject of this record belongs was Stephen Handy, who spent his early days at Burrillville, Rhode Island, where he was a shoemaker, school teacher, and farmer. He built his house … Read more

Having graduated from a well-known business college in Connecticut after he had completed his education in the public schools, Mr. Hill taught commercial branches in that college and in the Woonsocket High School for some sixteen years and then purchased the School of Commercial Sciences in Woonsocket, of which he has been owner and principal for almost twenty years. Under his direction this school enjoys a high reputation and each year is attended by large numbers of young people, not only from Woonsocket, but also from the surrounding towns. Mr. Hill is active also in the affairs of several financial … Read more

One of the families which has long held an important place in public life is that of Lippitt, of whom one of the recent representatives was Governor Charles Warren Lippitt of Providence. He was a native and life-long resident of this city, as well as a descendant of an old and honored family, and, like his father before him, served in the chief executive office of the State Government. His election to the governorship came in 1895, just twenty years after his father, Henry Lippitt, had held the same office; and again in 1896, he was chosen to this position. … Read more

Entering the employ of the J. B. Farnum Company of Woonsocket as a young man, Mr. Carroll continued with this company and today is its president. For many years he represented the company as one of its sales representatives on the road, but in more recent years he has devoted all of his time to executive work. He is also an executive officer of several other important manufacturing concerns in Woonsocket and Thornton. Though interested in public questions and in the civic affairs of Woonsocket, he has never taken an active part in politics. He is, however, a popular member … Read more

Having entered the business established by his father in 1886, Mr. Hough has continued to be associated with this well-known dye plant of Woonsocket, and now (1931) is its treasurer and general manager. M. Leslie Hough was born at Woonsocket, on February 26, 1886, a son of Mark and Mary A. (Wardle) Hough. His father was born in England, but has lived in the United States since he was five years of age. His mother is a native of Rhode Island. Mr. Hough received his early education in the schools of Woonsocket and then attended Worcester Academy, Worcester, Massachusetts, and … Read more

Though still relatively young, Joseph Pratt, city clerk of Woonsocket, Rhode Island, has demonstrated an independence of spirit and native ability which qualifies him among the important men of affairs in this city. Mr. Pratt has been connected with many enterprises in his business career, all of them successfully, and his services to the city in his present office have been of genuine value. Born at Webster, Massachusetts, on June 26, 1889, Mr. Pratt is a son of Nelson and Mary (Labonte) Pratt, the former born at Milton, Vermont, and the latter a native of Webster. Both now reside in … Read more